SDL - Can't get it working very well.

[AngelHoof]

Hello,

Andy here - With a very embarassing and noob-ish problem.

I've wanted to make a simple little game with some simple 2d/3d graphics (with SDL, i'm going with 2d), so i've read that SDL can be a good thing to start with. And i've been reading the http://www.lazyfoo.net/SDL_tutorials/index.php

I have installed SDL with a Dev-C++ devpak, and also manually installed it... I've got the SDL.dll in my system32 map (i've since then removed it though) and now i have a shortcut to a .tar file in there instead.

I'm just.. Bummed. I've tried for so many weeks now to understand it at the very basics. But each new time i try - disappointment hits me.

The lazyfoo tutorial tells me to create a project - and i've done that. One time i even got a window to appear (though, just with copy+paste). But i'm so confused, i'm one of those stupid people who can't manage anything without specific and detailed explanations.

So i created the project, i saved it - and then go on to the next part, where i'm supposed to get an image on the screen. Obviously - this fails bigtime. I'm very stupid, as i've said already - and as such, the first problem i encounter is:

  //Load image
    hello = SDL_LoadBMP( "hello.bmp" );

Does the tutorial actually assume i have the image file called "hello.bmp" ?!
I know, i have no right to complain at the author. But for some silly people like me - things can get very confusing.

It doesn't explain how to get my own image to show up, it doesn't tell me where i should put this image? (however, common sense tells me it should be in the same folder as the project.)

I'm very close to getting panic. So; *flame shield on* would anybody like to suggest something that i should do? Or is there something i missed?

If all else fails, i would be tremendously grateful if somebody who is comfortable with SDL would like to tutor me through some of the basics.

Oh, and if you'd suggest some other library that would be easier/better - please do so!

Thanks in advance,
Andy.

[DeadH34d]

The author of the tutorial probably expects you to create a file called "hello.bmp". There may also be a file you can download on the tutorial page actually called "hello.bmp". But yes, that's why it's not working, because you don't have a file called hello.

[AngelHoof]

Actually, nevermind. Indeed it was a extremly silly question made by me. Because at the bottom there is a small text and link "Download the media and source code for this tutorial here."

Just as usual - my own stupidity prevents me from learning :)

[Computergeek01]

I have to ask what we are all wondering, why even though the thought occured to you did you not try to make a .bmp file called "hello.bmp"? This doesn't scream stupidity to me, this DOES screem fatigue. Always try to remember programming is a tough thing to learn, you will not get everything at once. Even though it isn't physically exhausting you will wear down until you cannot do it anymore.